So long as you’re not overdoing it, almost all forms of exercise provide some benefit. Yet, too often, there’s a tendency to lump all types of exercise together as though a cardio-heavy morning run were the same as a posture- and flexibility-focused yoga practice. Strength, flexibility, cardio-vascular, respiratory, gastro-intestinal, and orthopedic health are just some of the different areas you can target with various types of exercise.

More to this point, a great exercise habit involves a combination of tried-and-true activities, as well trying out new types of exercise. There’s a mental component in terms of personal interest and motivation. To get the most lifelong benefits, you need to stick with an exercise routine. Yet, at the same time, your body will adapt to pretty much any type of exercise, leading to diminished returns over time. Many exercise and fitness experts recommend diversifying your exercise routine from time to time to create “muscle confusion” and force your body to respond, repair, and strengthen itself in new ways.